A rainbow of food not only makes your plate look appealing but “it has the potential to protect you from heart disease and cancer and keep your brain healthy” says Christy Tagney PhD, a nutritionist at Rush University Medical Centre.

Aside from being packed with essential fibre, vitamins and minerals, veggies are packed with protective plant chemicals which not only give plants their colour, smell and flavour but helps protect the plant from disease and also protects them against cell damage. “Eating produce passes these plant chemicals – and their benefits to us” Tagney says.